Phalaenopsis plant named &#39;moonlight serenade&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘Moonlight Serenade’, characterized by its upright plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; strong flowering stems; strong leaves; freely flowering habit with typically two inflorescences per plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers; flowers with fused labella; white-colored flowers with a large white-colored labella with light purple-colored stripes and marbling; and good postproduction longevity.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Phalaenopsis Plants

Inventor: René Schoone

Filed: Jun. 6, 2020

Ser. No. 62/705,003

Inventor and Applicant/Assignee hereby claims the benefit of this provisional U.S. Patent Application.

Botanical designation: Phalaenopsis hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MOONLIGHT SERENADE’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR and APPLICANT/ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee of the instant application, Floricultura B.V. of Heemskerk, The Netherlands on Mar. 18, 2021, application number 2021/0833. Foreign priority is not claimed to this European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application.

The Inventor and Applicant/Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor and/or Applicant/Assignee. Inventor and Applicant/Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Moonlight Serenade’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in De Lier and Heemskerk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new fast-growing and freely flowering Phalaenopsis plants with good leaf shape and large flowers with unique and attractive patterns and coloration.

The new Phalaenopsis plant originated from a cross-pollination in July, 2012 in Nantou, Taiwan of Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘Timothy Christopher’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘Sogo Yukidian’ X ‘Yu Pin Firework’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Phalaenopsis plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment in Heemskerk, The Netherlands in December, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by in vitro meristem propagation in a controlled environment in Assendelft, The Netherlands since December, 2018 has shown that the unique features of this new Phalaenopsis plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Moonlight Serenade’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Moonlight Serenade’ as a new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Strong flowering stems.     -   4. Strong leaves.     -   5 Freely flowering habit with typically two inflorescences per         plant, each inflorescence with numerous flowers.     -   6. Flowers with fused labella, typically referred to as a “big         lip” type.     -   7 White-colored flowers with a large white-colored labella with         light purple-colored stripes and marbling.     -   8. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Timothy Christopher’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily from plants of ‘Timothy Christopher’ in plant habit and flower size as plants of the new Phalaenopsis are taller and have broader flowers than plants of ‘Timothy Christopher’ are dark yellow in color with only a few spots and no dashes or stripes. In addition, the labellum lateral and central lobes are fused in plants of the new Phalaenopsis whereas the lateral and central lobes of the labellum of plants of ‘Timothy Christopher’ are not fused.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Sogo Yukidan’ X ‘Yu Pin Firework’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily from plants of ‘Sogo Yukidan’ X ‘Yu Pin Firework’ in flower color as flower labella of plants of the new Phalaenopsis are white in color with light purple-colored stripes and marbling whereas flower labella of plants of ‘Sogo Yukidan’ X ‘Yu Pin Firework’ are solid white in color without any stripes or marbling.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘Pillow Talk’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Phalaenopsis differ primarily from plants of ‘Pillow Talk’ in flower color as flower labella of plants of the new Phalaenopsis are white in color with light purple-colored stripes and marbling whereas flower labella of plants of ‘Pillow Talk’ are white in color with only a few stripes and no marbling.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Phalaenopsis plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Phalaenopsis plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Moonlight Serenade’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘Moonlight Serenade’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring in 10.5-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Heemskerk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typically used in commercial Phalaenopsis production. Plants were 18 months old when the photographs and description were taken. During the first twelve months of production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 27° C. During the final six months of production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 20° C. During the 18 months of production, light levels ranged from a minimum of 5,000 lux to a maximum of 10,000 lux. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘Moonlight Serenade’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘Timothy Christopher’,             not patented.         -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis hybrida ‘Sogo Yukidan’ X ‘Yu Pin             Firework’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By in vitro meristem propagation.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About two weeks             at temperatures about 28° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About 20 to 25 weeks at temperatures about 28° C. to             30° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous; typically grey to green in             color; actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizer, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Low amount of branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Herbaceous epiphyte; upright             plant habit with typically two inflorescences per plant,             each inflorescence with numerous flowers; monopodial;             moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height, substrate level to top of foliar plane.—About             9.1 cm.         -   Plant height, substrate level to top of             inflorescences.—About 40.8 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—About 31.4 cm. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement and quantity.—Distichous, simple; sessile; about             six leaves per plant.         -   Length.—About 18.6 cm.         -   Width.—About 7.8 cm.         -   Aspect.—Upright to outwardly arching.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate; slightly carinate.         -   Apex.—Unequal obtuse to unequal broadly acute.         -   Base.—Sheathing. Sheath length: About 1.4 cm. Sheath width:             About 1.4 cm. Sheath color: Close to 143B; towards the upper             margin, close to 146B.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,             glabrous; slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Camptodromous.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to a blend of             NN137A and 147A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to             146B heavily mottled with close to N186C. Fully expanded             leaves, upper surface: Close to NN137B; margin edges, close             to 144B; venation, close to NN137A. Fully expanded leaves,             lower surface: Close to 146B slightly mottled with close to             N186C; venation, close to 200C. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance and flowering habit.—Showy zygomorphic flowers             arranged on axillary branched racemes; typically two             inflorescences per plant; each inflorescence with about             twelve flowers; flowers face outwardly on arching             inflorescences supported by upright peduncles; flowers with             three petals, two lateral petals and one center petal             transformed into a labellum and three sepals.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Time to flower.—Plants begin flowering about six months             after planting; plants flower naturally during the winter             into the spring.         -   Flower longevity.—Long flowering period, individual flowers             maintain good substance for about eight weeks on the plant;             flowers not persistent.         -   Inflorescence length (lowermost flower to inflorescence             apex).—About 27 cm.         -   Inflorescence width.—About 11.6 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Height: About 2.3 cm. Diameter: About 1.3 cm by             1.5 cm. Shape: Ovate to broadly ovate. Color: Close to 145C             slightly tinged with close to 174C.         -   Flower size.—About 7.5 cm (vertical) by 7.5 cm (horizontal).         -   Flower depth.—About 1.8 cm.         -   Petals, quantity and arrangement.—Three, two lateral petals             and one center petal transformed into a labellum.         -   Lateral petals.—Length: About 3.7 cm. Width: About 3.9 cm.             Shape: Reniform to short rhomboidal. Apex: Obtuse to very             broadly and bluntly acute. Margin: Entire. Texture and             luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, velvety;             matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to a blend             of NN155A and NN155B. When opening, lower surface: Close to             157D; towards the margins and apex, close to NN155B. Fully             opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155D; color             does not change with subsequent development.         -   Labella.—Appearance: Lateral and central lobes fused towards             the base into a single lobe, typically referred to as a “big             lip” type. Length, lateral lobes: About 1.8 cm. Width,             lateral lobes: About 1.9 cm. Length, central lobe: About             3.5 cm. Width, central lobe: About 9 mm. Shape, lateral and             central lobes: Labellum overall, roughly reniform. Apex,             lateral lobes: Obtuse. Apex, central lobe: Broadly retuse             with two narrow forward-facing cirrose tips, about 7 mm in             length and about 1.6 mm in width. Margins, lateral and             central lobes: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous, moderately velvety; matte.             Callosities: Located at the base of the labellum and             attachment point of the lateral petals; about 4 mm in             length, about 2 mm in width and about 3 mm in height. Color,             lateral and central lobes: When opening, upper surface:             Close to NN155B and towards the lateral lobe apices, close             to NN155D with radial stripes and mottling, close to 75A to             75B; main vein on central lobe, close to N75A to N75B; at             the base (at column connection), close to 157D. When             opening, lower surface: Close to NN155B and towards the             apex, close to 157C to 157D with faint radial stripes and             mottling, close to 76B; at the base (at column connection),             close to 157C to 157D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to             NN155D with radial stripes and mottling, close to 76A; main             vein on central lobe, close to 70B; at the base (at column             connection), close to 76A. Fully opened, lower surface:             Close to NN155C with faint radial stripes and mottling,             close to 76B. Color, callosities: Immature: Close to 150C to             150D with fine dots, close to N77B. Mature: Close to NN155A             with fine dots, close to N77D.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Three, one upper dorsal             sepal and two lower lateral sepals. Length, dorsal sepal:             About 3.8 cm. Width, dorsal sepal: About 2.1 cm. Length,             lateral sepals: About 3.8 cm. Width, lateral sepals: About             2 cm. Shape, dorsal sepal: Elliptic to oblong. Shape,             lateral sepals: Ovate. Apex, dorsal sepal: Bluntly acute.             Apex, lateral sepals: Acute. Base, dorsal and lateral             sepals: Truncate. Margin, dorsal sepal: Entire. Margin,             lateral sepals: Entire. Texture and luster, dorsal and             lateral sepals, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous,             velvety; matte. Color, dorsal sepal: When opening, upper             surface: Close to a blend of NN155A and NN155B. When             opening, lower surface: Close to 150D; towards the margins             and apex, close to 157C; slightly tinged with close to 181D.             Fully opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D. Fully opened,             lower surface: Close to NN155C; towards the apex, slightly             tinged with close to 76C. Color, lateral sepals: When             opening, upper surface: Distally, close to 155B and             proximally, close to 150D with basal venation, close to             182D. When opening, lower surface: Close to 150D; towards             the apex, tinged with close to 174D. Fully opened, upper             surface: Close to NN155D; towards the apex, slightly tinged             with close to 75C. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to             NN155C; towards the apex, slightly tinged with close to 75C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 55.2 cm. Diameter: About 4.5 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Upright to outwardly arching.             Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to             143A to 143B, densely covered with fine dots, close to 147A;             towards the apex, darker than 197A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 3.8 cm. Diameter: About 2.75 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 60° from peduncle             axis. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color:             Close to N148A; distally, close to 186D.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Column length: About 8 mm.             Column width: About 5 mm. Column color: Close to NN155B.             Pollinia quantity: Two. Pollinia diameter (per two             pollinia): About 2 mm. Pollinia color: Close to 23A.             Gynoecium: Stigma length: About 2.5 mm. Stigma width: About             4 mm. Stigma shape: Reniform. Stigma color: Close to NN155C.             Ovary length: About 6 mm. Ovary diameter: About 1 mm. Ovary             color: Close to 149D. Seeds and fruits: To date, seed and             fruit development have not been observed on plants of the             new Phalaenopsis. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Phalaenopsis     have not been shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Phalaenopsis plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about 15° to about     40° C. and are suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 10 to 12. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Moonlight Serenade’ as illustrated and described. 